2010 Porsche 911

Carrera Coupe

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MPG: 18 city | 25 hwy

Ownership Cost: Excellent | see details

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2010 Porsche 911 Review

Iconic sports car that remains eternally popular

Reviewed by Automotive on 12/22/2010

In a Nutshell

The 2010 Porsche 911 is a sports car that comes as a coupe or convertible in various trim levels. The Carrera and Carrera S are available as a coupe and convertible, while the Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, and Turbo trims feature all-wheel drive and larger rear fenders. The GT3 and GT3 RS trim come only as coupes, while the Targa 4 and Targa 4S sport a large power-sliding glass roof. The Carrera is powered by a rear-mounted 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, the S gets a 3.8-liter flat-6, the GT3 features a 3.8-liter flat-6, and the Turbo gets a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-6 engine.

The Turbo and the trims with a 4 in their name come with all-wheel drive; otherwise, the Porsche 911 is rear-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all 911s, although a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission is available. The quintessential sports car, the Porsche 911 practically defies natural laws, with its motor resting behind the rear axle and the Stuttgart struts improving with every model. Fuel efficiency is a surprisingly good for a sports car at 18 mpg city / 25 mpg highway.

New for 2010

For 2010, the Porsche 911 GT3 and track-tuned GT3 RS trim levels return with performance enhancements, and the Turbo gets more horsepower, along with other revisions.

Essentials

Engines: 3.6L flat-six, 3.8L flat-six, 3.8L twin-turbo flat-six
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Body Styles: Coupe, convertible
Trims: Carrera Coupe, Carrera Convertible, Carrera 4 Coupe, Carrera 4 Convertible, Carrera S Coupe, Carrera S Convertible, Carrera 4S Coupe, Carrera 4S Convertible, GT3 Coupe, Targa 4 Coupe, Targa 4S Coupe, Turbo Coupe, Turbo Convertible

On the Outside

While graceful and handsome, the Porsche 911 is functional as well and delivers surprising fuel efficiency.

From the Inside

The Porsche 911 features comfortable, if Spartan, accommodations up front but the back seats are mostly for stowing items. From the navigation system to iPod integration, the 911 offers an array of convenience features.

Driving Performance

The 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera is powered by a rear-mounted 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine generating 345 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque. The Carrera S gets a 3.8-liter flat-6 pushing out 385 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The GT3 features a 3.8-liter flat-6 churning out 435 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, while the GT3 RS produces 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo gets a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-6 that cranks out 500 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque and sprints from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds! Furthermore, it has superb braking power and steering precision.

Safety Equipment

Standard safety features on the Porsche 911 include front-side air bags and side curtains, stability and traction-control systems, and antilock brakes.

Gas Mileage

Carrera/Carrera Cabriolet: 18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy (man), 19 mpg city/27 mpg hwy (PDK).
Carrera S/Carrera Cabriolet S: 18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy (man), 19 mpg city/26 mpg hwy (PDK).
Carrera 4/Carrera 4S/Carrera 4 Cabriolet/Carrera 4 Cabriolet S/Targa 4: 18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy (man), 18 mpg city/26 mpg hwy (PDK)
Targa 4S: 18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy (man), 18 mpg city/27 mpg hwy (PDK)
Turbo: 16 mpg city/24 mpg hwy (man), 17 mpg/25 mpg hwy (PDK)
Turbo Cabriolet: 16 mpg city/24 mpg hwy (man), 16 mpg city/24 mpg hwy (PDK) GT3/GT3 RS: 14 mpg city/21 mpg hwy

Plusses

Prodigious speed
Good driving manner
Precision steering response

Minuses

Bit dated styling
Expensive options
Spartan cockpit

Rating

Iconic sports car that remains eternally popular

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